Metallic pole.



N0. 7l4,568. Patented Nov. 25, I902.

M. FERGUSON.

METALLIC PULE (Application filed July 16, 1902.)

(No Model.)

wa s TATES MEPHAN FERGUSON, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

lVl ETALLIC POLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 714,568, dated November 25, 1902.

Application filed July 16, 1902. Serial No- 115,868. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MEPHAN FERGUSON, engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at The Olderfieet, Collins street, Melbourne, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented an Improved Metallic Pole, of which the following is a specification.

This invention of an improved metallic pole has been designe'dmainly for the purpose-of providing a thoroughly strong pole at a very low cost and one specially suitable as a telegraph-pole and as a trolley-pole on electric tramways.

It consists in a pole made of two or more sections of sheet iron or steel, preferably the latter, bent into the required shape and having their longitudinal edges provided with interlocking connections so arranged as to hold the sectionsagainst lateral displacement and strengthened at intervals by means of so arranged as that their edges butt up against each other and form a complete circle in crosssection, the sections being hooped together, as before. Further, these sections or strips of sheet iron or steel may be made tapering, so as to produce a tapering pole, and for this purpose I take sheets of iron or steel of the required length and width and cut them in a slanting line from end to end and then reverse one of such sections or strips so that the two broadest ends are together and the two narrowest ends together. When these are eachbent into a semicircle, their edges are arranged to meet each other, so as to form a tapering pole. When the parts of the pole are arranged in position, they are bound together by means of metal bands or rings, which may be shrunk on or placed thereon cold. AlthoughI have referred to these poles as being made of a circular cross-section, it is obvious that they may be made in any other required shape. The opposite longitudinal meeting edges of the strips or plates are provided, respectively, withinterlockingtongueand-groove or similar interfittin g connections so arranged as to securely look all the strips or plates throughout their entire length. By this arrangement the strips or plates are firmly held against lateral displacement and a more rigid structure is provided.

Referring to my drawings, Figure 1 shows a metal plate cut in a slanting direction, after which the two parts are each bent into a semicircle or other required shape and the two broad ends (marked A) brought together and the whole clamped by hoops or rings B to form the tapering pole, (marked Fig. 2.) This is the best form of my pole; but I prefer that the meeting edges should be made to fit one into the other, as shown in cross-section, (marked Fig.

A modification of my invention is shown in Fig. 4, in which the pole is made in three pieces instead of two, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

When the pole cannot be made sufficiently long from one plate, I make them in several lengths and then fit them one into the other telescopically, as shown in Fig. 5.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is- 1. An improvedmetallic pole consisting of two or more strips or sections of sheet metal bent to the required shape and having their longitudinal meeting edges provided with interlocking connections so arranged as to hold the said strips or sections against lateral displacement, and metallic rings or hoops fitted over the said pole to firmly bind the sections together and hold their longitudinal edges into interlocking engagement with each other, substantially as described.

2. An improved metallic pole consisting of two or more strips or sections of sheet metal bent to the required shape and each having its opposite longitudinal meeting edges provided respectively with a tongue and a groove so arranged as to interlock with each other when the sections are brought edge to edge, and metallic rings or hoops fitted over the over the pole to firmly bind the sections together and hold their longitudinal edges into interlocking engagement and against lateral displacement, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MEPHAN FERGUSON.

Witnesses:

EDWARD WATERS, EDWARD WATERS, J unr. 

